A pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall.

Thepomegranate is mostly native to the Iranian Plateau and the Himalayas in North Pakistan and Northern India. It has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times, and today, is widely cultivated throughout Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Egypt, China, Burma, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the drier parts of southeast Asia, the Mediterranean region of Southern Europe, and tropical Africa. Introduced into Latin America and California by Spanish settlers in 1769, pomegranate is now cultivated in parts of California and Arizona for juice production.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the fruit is typically in season from September to February. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is in season from March to May.

An ancient fruit, pomegranate is mentioned in Europe as early as the Iron-Age Greek Mythology in the Homeric hymns. Yet, it has still to reach mainstream prominence as a consumer fruit in commercial markets of North America and the Western Hemisphere.

Potential health benefitsIn preliminary laboratory research and human pilot studies, juice of the pomegranate was effective in reducing heart disease risk factors, including LDL oxidation, macrophage oxidative status, and foam cell formation, all of which are steps in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

In a limited study of hypertensive patients, consumption of pomegranate juice for two weeks was shown to reduce systolic blood pressure by inhibiting serum angiotensin-converting enzyme. Juice consumption may also inhibit viral infections while pomegranate extracts have antibacterial effects against dental plaque.

While one study showed that, in a test tube, extracts of the fruit can inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer cells, no studies have shown that eating pomegranates has any effect on the development of breast cancer in humans.

Pomegranate NutritionPomegranates contain many vitamins and nutrients necessary for the body to function properly and stay healthy in the long run. One medium-sized fruit contains:

Nutrients and phytochemicalsPomegranate sepals and drying stamens after fertilization and petal fall

Pomegranate aril juice provides about 16% of an adult's daily vitamin C requirement per 100 ml serving, and is a good source of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), potassium and polyphenols, such as tannins and flavonoids.

Pomegranates are listed as high-fiber in some charts of nutritional value. That fiber, however, is entirely contained in the edible seeds which also supply unsaturated oils. People who choose to discard the seeds forfeit nutritional benefits conveyed by the seed fiber, oils and micronutrients.

The most abundant polyphenols in pomegranate juice are the hydrolyzable tannins called ellagitannins formed when ellagic acid binds with a carbohydrate. Punicalagins are tannins with free-radical scavenging properties in laboratory experiments and with potential human effects. Punicalagins are absorbed into the human body and may have dietary value as antioxidants, but conclusive proof of efficacy in humans has not yet been shown. During intestinal metabolism by bacteria, ellagitannins and punicalagins are converted to urolithins which have unknown biological activity in vivo.Other phytochemicals include polyphenolic catechins, gallocatechins, and anthocyanins, such as prodelphinidins, delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin. The ORAC (antioxidant capacity) of pomegranate juice was measured at 2,860 units per 100 grams.

Many food and dietary supplement makers use pomegranate phenolic extracts as ingredients in their products instead of the juice. One of these extracts is ellagic acid, which may become bioavailable only after parent molecule punicalagins are metabolized. However, ingested ellagic acid from pomegranate juice does not accumulate in the blood in significant quantities and is rapidly excreted. Accordingly, ellagic acid from pomegranate juice does not appear to be biologically important in vivo.

These vitamins are important to daily bodily functions, but the most important health benefits of pomegranates are antioxidants. Pomegranates contain three times as many antioxidants as red wine and green tea. In fact, they contain the most antioxidants of any natural food.

Benefits of Drinking Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate juice has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health. Research showed that drinking a glass of pomegranate juice a day for one year reduced blood pressure (particularly systolic pressure) and slowed down LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) oxidation and prevent the hardening of arteries. More recent research has found that drinking 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily for three months improved the amount of oxygen getting into the heart muscle of patients with coronary heart disease. Pomegranate juice, like aspirin, can help keep blood platelets from clumping together to form unwanted clots. Pomegranate juice can help relieve arthritic pain because of it ability strengthen and repair cartilage.

Fights Breast CancerStudies in Israel show that pomegranate juice destroys breast cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. It may also prevent breast cancer cells from forming.Lung Cancer PreventionStudies in mice show that pomegranate juice may inhibit the development of lung cancer. Slows Prostate CancerIt slowed the growth of prostate cancer in mice. Keeps PSA Levels StableIn a study of 50 men who had undergone treatment for prostate cancer, 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day kept PSA levels stable, reducing the need for further treatment such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy.Protects the Neonatal BrainStudies show that maternal consumption of pomegranate juice may protect the neonatal brain from damage after injury. Prevention of OsteoarthritisSeveral studies indicate that pomegranate juice may prevent cartilage deterioration.Protects the ArteriesIt prevents plaque from building up in the arteries and may reverse previous plaque buildup.Alzheimer's Disease PreventionIt may prevent and slow Alzheimer's disease. In one study, mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease were given pomegranate juice. They accumulated significantly less amyloid plaque than control mice and they performed mental tasks better. Lowers CholesterolIt lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) and raises HDL (good cholesterol).Lowers Blood PressureOne study showed that drinking 1.7 ounces of pomegranate juice per day lowered systolic blood pressure by as much as 5 percent.Dental ProtectionResearch suggests that drinking pomegranate juice may be a natural way to prevent dental plaque.

Pomegranate juice can slow the progression of prostate cancer. In a study of 50 men who had undergone treatment for prostate cancer, 8ounces of pomegranate juice per day kept PSA levels stable, reducing the need for further treatment such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy. The PSA test is a simple blood test to measure how much PSA (prostate specific antigen) a man has in his bloodstream at a given time. The PSA test is the most effective test currently available for the early detection of prostate cancer.

Pomegranate juice is a natural Viagra. Studies showed that long term consumption of pomegranate juice may help combat erectile dysfunction. Apparently those same free radicals that damage your cells and DNA are also a big contributing factor in erectile dysfunction. The antioxidant power of pomegranate juice helps prevent and repair that damage.

Preparation:Simply cut the leathery outer skin, and peel it back to reveal hundreds of brightly colored red seeds, called arils, which are embedded in a creamy white membrane. Pluck out the arils and store in a container in your refrigerator for use in almost anything that you want to dress up with color and a powerful health punch.

Be sure you’re buying 100% pomegranate juice, not a blend of apple or grape juices with a small percentage of the more expensive pomegranate juice.

Those wishing to gain the health benefits of pomegranate without the added sugar in juice or the hard work may consider purchasing pomegranate supplements. These come in capsule form containing pomegranate extract. These supplements have the added benefit of reducing dental plaque because of the anti-bacterial quality of the extract.

Here you'll find pomegranate products, pomegranate supplements and other health products that use the best formulations that are backed by research to bring you the power of the pomegranate. Pomegranate supplements act as a natural remedy for the discomfort often associated with menopause or other hormonal shifts.

Disclaimer: This website is for information purposes only. By providing the information contained herein we are not diagnosing, treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing any type of disease or medical condition. Before beginning any type of natural, integrative or conventional treatment regime, it is advisible to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.